what i haven't told you is how difficult it has been to conduct this science especially over the past 15 years since the cdc has effectively choked off funding. few private foundations have stood up in the breach with the notable exceptions of the joyce foundation and the burnett foundation to name just two. mayor bloomberg gave you a good idea of just ouch we're up against, and so -- just how much we're up against. what i will say is having studied the relationship between firearm violence, firearms and lethal violence for the past 20 years, i still think that we can make a difference. and moreover, we're obliged to act on what we already know, some of which i've talked about this morning. and in thinking about what we should do, i think it's fitting to acknowledge as mayor bloomberg mentioned that one month ago -- almost to the minute, in fact -- 20 little children and 6 of their teachers were slaughtered in newtown, connecticut. it would be a disservice to those people who died, i think, be in this forum -- if in this forum which is inspired by their memory and committed to reducin